Apple are no strangers to thinking outside the box when it comes to their product, and are always on the cutting edge, if not, in front of their competitors.

So when they chose their new Senior Vice President of retail and online sales in Angela Ahrendts, we knew this was going to be a big deal! But we have to say, hiring a female for a top executive position will hopefully one day not be and “outside the box” mentality, but something of the norm. It’s a big deal in more ways than just the obvious, that have already been reported on in many media outlets.

52 year old Angela is currently the CEO of fashion giant Burberry, where she will remain until she takes up her position at Apple officially mid-2014. She has been credited with turning Burberry around, implementing a more tech-focused strategy leveraging social media. This enabled her to become the highest paid CEO in the UK in 2012 reportedly earning 12.6 million pounds.

When she joins Apple, she will head up their online and physical stores, but will continue to be based in London where she is now. The work she did with Burberry enabled them to conquer a massive market: Asia. Perhaps this is why Apple are excited to have her on board, because they are yet to dominate the Asian market and it seems they picked the right gal!

“I am profoundly honored to join Apple in this newly created position next year, and very much look forward to working with the global teams to further enrich the consumer experience on and offline,” Ahrendts said in a statement. “I have always admired the innovation and impact Apple products and services have on people’s lives and hope in some small way I can help contribute to the company’s continued success and leadership in changing the world.”

But it’s not just the business aspect that makes her a great fit for Apple, it indicates to us that Apple are looking to expand their focus with Angela’s fashion background and gender no doubt bringing something they have yet to implement into their brand.She will be an inspiration to many girls, as she possesses a hard-working attitude, telling BBC radio she hasn’t taken a sick day in 25 years! She is married with 3 children, and is a devout christian who apparently reads the bible every day. If there is one word that stands out to us when we think of Angela, it is commitment. She is committed to her work, her family, her passion, and her faith.

These are honorable traits that we need more of when it comes to powerful female role models.Angela gave a very powerful TED Talk in April about human energy, and how “it single-handedly has the power to unite and transform companies and communities.” (Watch below). As a business woman respected on all levels, she stood on this platform not to talk about strategies and alliances, but about love, and even dared to quote Jesus! Now that’s pretty revolutionary and courageous of a woman to use her position to influence minds and hearts in a way that goes way beyond money, business, power etc.

Everyone knows Apple is strategic and clever when it comes to their products and announcements, and this probably has a lot to do with the people who work there. Hiring Angela as their head of retail is a major step forward for women, for the brand, and showing that they are ready to take the company to the next level.Her example hopefully will encourage more and more women not to try and become like the men to reach the top, and certainly not to use any form of sexuality or physical appearance as leverage.

It’s about hard-work, commitment, being yourself and not being afraid to harness the human energy you possess. Angela is a shining example of using your individuality, without compromise, as a powerful way to transform and progress.We hope this will inspire you, the one reading this right now, to stay on your path, don’t conform, and certainly don’t ignore the unique aspects of your life. As Angela talks about Energy in the video below, citing it as the source of passion, how can you use your trust, intuition and belief to make a difference in your world? Clearly for her, she is going to make big changes at Apple and we can’t wait to see them!